For Hackett, It Was an Offer He Couldn’t Refuse

Paul Hackett admitted he had some agonizing moments when he was approached about replacing old friend John Robinson as the USC coach. He also knew deep down that he would take the job.

Hackett, an assistant under Robinson at USC from 1976-80 and currently offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, credits Robinson with giving him his big break.

“If it wasn’t for John Robinson, I would never have had the chance to be a part of everything that is USC,” Hackett said Thursday during a conference call from the Midwest.

“Everything I learned about USC, I learned from him. . . . That’s when Paul Hackett’s career took off.”

Hackett, who will remain with the Chiefs until the end of the NFL playoffs--possibly through the Super Bowl on Jan. 25 -- said he was stunned when USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett called him in his hotel room in San Diego last Saturday.

The call came while he was preparing plays for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.

“I had no idea of anything, then I received the phone call that stunned me,” Hackett said. “The emotion flowed through me, and Mike Garrett asked if I was interested. I said, you don’t have an opening, with John Robinson and all, and I’m with the Kansas City Chiefs and I said I didn’t think there was really any way to get together.”

Hackett, 50, said that Garrett thought the details could be worked out, and they spoke again on Monday.

Robinson, who had wanted to remain as coach, was fired Tuesday and Hackett was signed. The moves were announced Wednesday.

“The initial reaction in my gut was that I knew that I was going to do that [take the job],” Hackett said. “Now, I can’t wait to get there.”

Hackett said he plans to talk to Robinson next week when he comes to Los Angeles during a three-day break from the Chiefs, who have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. He also said that coaching changes are part of the business.

“Hey, no one’s more pro John Robinson than I am. How I feel about USC is because of him. But things change,” Hackett said. “That’s the first thing I’m going to tell the players. That’s the world we live in. And young people are about change and adapting to change.”

Robinson’s firing was messy. He first learned about it on the radio Tuesday, then had it confirmed only by a message on his answering machine that evening. He held his own news conference at a hotel Wednesday shortly after Garrett and USC President Steven Sample held one on campus.

Robinson said he thought he and his staff had not been treated with dignity and had been “hung out to dry.” A half-dozen players showed up to voice their support of him.

Hackett admitted that the circumstances of his hiring made him uncomfortable, but added: “I have been removed. I don’t see my role as being involved in what has transpired. An offer was made, and I understand about changes in the profession. I have been in, out, moved. But I was not part of this process.”

Hackett emphasized that his focus will remain on helping the Chiefs try to become Super Bowl champions, but did say that among his priorities at USC will be meeting with Robinson’s staff, meeting with the players, and becoming versed in the recruiting process.

Recruiting could be a problem, since he won’t become fully involved until the Chiefs’ season ends. Robinson’s assistants, not knowing whether they will be retained by Hackett, will have to do the recruiting.

Hackett has been a head coach just once before. He had a 13-20-1 record at Pittsburgh in 1990-92, and was fired following a 3-8 season.

“I think the experience at Pittsburgh, learning about academics and so, help round me out,” he said. “One thing I learned there was that I shouldn’t try to do everything.”